Animal trap



c. n. STENBERG'.

ANIMAL TRAP. APPLICATION 'mfp Nov.1o. 1921.

Patented oet. 31,

3 SHEETS-SHEEI l.

\ Charles E tenbemg En AJ 4 I 5 4 5 i 5 4 nl to I .Z lf J J .2. n. w a W. m O Y m M m 0 Z m m .U1 A. M M

INVENTOR WITNEssES Y ffl ATTORNEY C. R. 'STENBERLL ANINIAL TRAP.l

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, i921.

1,4343 l 53., Patented Oct, 311, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHED 2.

. J l Charles E. temberg INVENTOR l Y a i" 164m@ ATTORNEY C. R. STENBERG.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION man Nov.1o, 1921.

mmd oct. 331', 1922;

INVENTR Chimes E'tenber'g ATTORNEY yvrrNEssEs gate or Patented ct. 3l, i922.

unirse stares CHARLES RQBERT STENBERG, OFl GENOA, NEBRASKL.

ANIMAL TRAP.

Application led November 10, 1921. 'Serial No. 514,348.

Y 1o all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. STENBERG, a citizen of the vUnited States, residing at Genoa, in the county oi' Nance and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useiul Animal Trap, of which the following is a specilication.

rllhis invention'relates tovtraps, and has for its object to provide a new and improved mechanism for rapidly closing the door of an enclosure, and which mechanism may be so adjusted that it will be responsive topressure and therefore operated by animals ot' diiierent sizes, thus obviating the necessity of providing larger or smaller traps for animals that are within certain limits .of weight or size. The size of the trap of course depends largely upon the size of the animal to be trapped. While the operating mechanism of one trap may be nicely adjusted so that it will be operated by mice as well as rats, yetv traps of various sizes may be made to accommodate weasels, minks, or mountain lions and bears.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing in the drawing, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as eX- pressed in the appended claims.

'In the drawings Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the trap in closed position. n

Fig. 2 is a plan view of thetrap on a larger scale with the top removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in detail oi the trip mechanism for disengaging the door from its elevated position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is al fragmentary view in elevation of the pivotal mounting` of the supporting frame. l

Referring to thedrawings, l designates a casing forming an enclosure for the mechanism and the trapping of animals, and which is provided with `an opening 2 adapted to be closed by a door 3. A top cover 1l is pivotally mounted on the casing and is provided with a keeper 5, and a hinged latching member G for maintaining the cover in locked position upon the top ot' the enclosure by means ot the lock 7. .Alt'the rear of the enclosure there is provided an opening 8, which is closed by means of the screen 9 which permits light to be admitted to the interior of the enclosure l. Hooks 10 are mounted upon the lower portion oil the back of the casing and are adapted to engage a bar located upon a chicken house. The casing 1 is placed with its back against the side of the chicken coop so that the opening 8 will register With an opening in the chicken coop, the hooks .l0 engaging the bar on the coop to secure the trap against removal. lVhen the door 3 is open, an animal peering in through this door will be able to see through the opening S and the opening in the coop and thereby be attracted by the poultry within the coop, but the screen 9 will prevent the animal caught in the trap from entering the coop.

A hook 13 mounted upon the inner side of the casing l, provides a support 'for a key 14 and a litter 15, the object of which will be presently explained.

A channel-shaped bracket 16 has downwardly turned ends 17 secured to the inner sides of the casing 1, and is adapted to support a pivotally mounted frame somewhat elevated from the floor oi1 the casing. The frame comprises a beam 18 pivotally mounted at 29 on the upst-anding arms of the l..- shaped membersl or standards 19 which are secured to the bracket 16. The front end of the beam is'provided with a projecting lip 2() which is adapted to be inserted within an opening l1 formed in the upper end o1c a T-shaped weight 2l., which is secured to the inner portion of the door 3, for causing the door to rapidly fall when released from the lip 20. A pusher rod or plunger 22 is slidably mounted on the upper edge of the beam 18, and held in place by a U- shaped member 23 providing a guide for the pusher rod 22. The other end of the pusher rod isl pivoted to the lower end oit" a rocker arm 24C which has an integrally mounted sleeve 24a rotatable upon a shaft 25 secured in position in the vupper ends of the standards 19 above the pivotal point 29 ot the beam 18. rlhe upper end of the rocker arm is pivotally connected, at 26, to links. 27, the other endof the links being pivotally connected, at 28, to a point on the beam 18 which is remote from the pivotal point of the beam. As the beam 18 is moved upon its pivo-tal point 29 by depressing the inner end 30, the links 27 will cause the upper endl of the rocker arm t0 move rearwardly, while the lower end will 4be moved forwardly, -Carrying the pusher rod or plunger 22 likewise forwardly and driving the doorB off the'lip 20.

Extending laterally and secured to the beam 18 is a bracket 31 having a cut-out portion near its free end, in which is seated a cylindrical racetrack 82 having a slot 83 in its upper surface extending' the entire length of the cylinder. .The race 32 is tilted at an angle to the horizontal, the lower end 34 of the cylindrical track depending below the beam 18 and near to the floor 49 of the casing 1, and is seated within a hook-shaped vertical bracket 35 having a vertical arm .36 and a' horizontal arm 37 secured to the inner end 8O of the pivoted beam 18.y lThe upper end of the track 32y is provided with a securing band 38fw-hich has a tongue 39 integrally formed with the bottom of the band and riveted or welded to the bracket 31 for securing-the upper end of the track 32 to the bracket 31. The portion of the band which bridges the slot in thel track 32 is vpro- I y, vided with a slotted offset portion 40, within ywhich slot is adapted to be inserted the key 14 for temporarily holding a ball 41 in the upper elevated end of the track 32.

A bracket 42 mounted on the lateral arm` 31, and a bracket 43 mounted upon the hori- Zontal arm 37 of the bracket 35, are provided with journals for the rotatable shaft 44. The shaft 44 is provided with journals comprising the pivot pins 58 adjustably mounted in the brackets 42 and 48, the inner end of the pivot pins engaging sockets 59 on the ends of the shaft 44. rlhis is but one form vof the journal that may be used, and any approved type may be equally well adapted for the purpose. The shaft 44 has a. crank arm 45 provided with a return bent portion 46, which is parallel to the shaft 44, and which is adapted to support a strap` 47 that carries the depressible platform 48 and maintains the platform elevated above the floor 49.

Upon the other end of the shaft 44 is mounted `a laterally extending arm 50, having the screw-threaded portion 51, upon which is adapted to be screwed the adjustable member 52. The arm 50 is normally maintained within slots 53 located transversely of the track 32, so that as the arm 50 rests in theslot, vit will engage the ball 41 and' maintain the ball in its elevated position in the upper end of the traek82 and upon one side vof the pivotalpoint of the beam 18. When any pressure or weight is appliedto the platform? 48,-the arm 46 will be depressed, rotating the shaft 44 and elevating the arm 50, thereby releasing the same from its engagement with the ball 41, thus permitting the ball r41 to race rapidly down towards the bottom 34 of the tubular-.race 32. The change of position of the ball upon the othersideof the pivotal point of the beam Vfurther away the weight 52 is from the free end of the `arm 50, the less pressure or weight l f is needed for depressing the platform 48 to operatev the shaft 44, andthe nearer the weight 52 is to the end of the arm 50 Vthe greater the weight is required for causing the `platform` to descend to operate the shaft 44. j

vMounted in the upper end of the brackets l2-and 48 is a screw-threaded member A54, upon which is slidabiy and rotatably mounted a weight .engagingl the threads of the threaded member 54, so that when the weight 54 is rotated it will move further away from or nearer to the inner end 56 of the screwthreaded member 54. As the member 55 is moved nearer to the end 56 of the screw 54,

thebeam 18 will have a tendencyto tilt more rapidly on its pivot point, but as the rotatable member 55 is moved away. from the outer end 56 of the screw 54, the memberlS will be less responsive to its tilting action since the center of gravity ofthe pivoted arm is somewhat displaced and moved `nearer to the pivot point of the frame. The change iny position of the weight 55 is effected to coiiinterbalance a variation in the weight of the door 8. f l

The rear end 30 of the pivoted beam 18 is limited in its movement by the U-shaped member 57, which is adapted to engage said end in its upward or downward movement. TheiU-shaped stop. 57 is secured to the back of the casing. 1.

Extending laterally from the rear end 30 of the pivoted beam 18 is an L-shaped bracket 60.v A U-s'haped guide 61 having its ends secured to the brackets 37 and 60 is adapted to form a guide for the-straps 47. The lower ends of the straps are secured in any approved manner to an L-shaped bracket 62, which is secured to the platform 48 and provides a fastening means for the lower end of the U-shaped strap 47 To the rear of the bracket 62 is a pan 63 mounted on the platform forv containing bait to attract the animals when necessary.

The door is slidably mounted in guides insa-,ice

G4 secured to the bottom 49 of the casing 1. A bumper G5 is secured to the iioor of the casing and beneath the door 3, so that as the door falls b y gravity when released from the lip 2O of the beam 18, it will strike the same and prevent too great a jar to the apparatus. platform 66 is secured to the floor 49 between the door and the movable platform 48 so that as the animal passes through the door, it will step upon thi platform and be suflioiently elevated, so that its next step will place its forefeet upon the movinef platform to depress the same and likewise 'the arm 46 to rotate the shaft 44 "for operating the releasing` arm 50.

rhe lifter 15 has outwardly projectingD gers G7, which are adapted to be inserted in perforations 68 formed in the door 3, and it is only used when. the trap or casing 1 has been placed in such a position that the opening" at the door will aline with an opening in another bof; in which it is desired to cage lthe animal which has been caught in the trap. The lifter then is drawn upwardly, raising` the door. This means for opening the door places the operators hands out of range of being;- bitten by the animal.

he operation of my device. is as folrllhe key 14 is inserted in the slot 33 of the track` 32 between the ball 41' and 'the lower end of the cylindrical members, when the ball is located in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 5. The ball is then moved upwardly until it passes beyond the arm 50, when the key may be placed within the slot located in the odset portion 40 of the binding strap 38 and y there aid in maintaining the ball temporarily in its elevated position until the -trap is set, when the same may be removed. The lip 67 forms a gripping surface by which the door may be raised. rl`he lip 69 is caught by the left hand, while the beam 18 or the lower end of the track 32 is gripped by the right hand and raised, and both-the door and the pivoted frame are tilted so that the beam 18 is substantially in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3. The perforation 11 in the door is then engaged by the lip 20 of the beam 18. rllhefftilting of the beam 18 to a horizontal position causes the links 27 to rotate the upper `end of the rocker arm` 24 forwardly,y and cause the pusher bar 22 to be withdrawn from the outer end of the beam and awayffrom the lip 20, in order that the lip 2O may be inserted within the opening 11.

The weight 52 may be moved' further from or nearer to the end of the' arm 50, depending upon the kind of animal to be caught in the trap. If very small animals are to be caught in the trap, the weight 52 may be moved further away from the end of the arm 50 and nearer the shaft 44, so that the platform 48 will be more sensitive or responweight 52 will be moved outwardly towards the end of the arm 50. lWhatever adyustment is necessary, it may be readily had by moving the weight 52 either nearer to or further away from the` arm 52.

rlhe trap in this position is set and the letey 14 is removed from its socket in the offt portion 40 and replaced upon the hook 13 located on the side of the casing 1. The e ight 55 may be adjusted along the screw 54, yand is only used to displace the center of ,ofravity of the pivoted frame when the weightof the door requires such an adjustment.

iis 'the weight 55 is moved away from the door and towards the end 56 of the screw it will be seen that the pivoted frame will be more responsive to tilting when 'the ball 41 down the inclined track 82 and strikes the bottom 84 of the track. lf lighter door is used, the weight 55 ina7 be rotated and moved away from the end 56 of the screw 54 until the proper adjustment had for balancing` the weight of the door 3.

The trap is usually placed with the screen 9 aliningr with an opening in a chicken coop, so that as an animal approaches the coop, it will apparently find an entrance through the open door 3, since he is able to see kthrough this door and through the screen 9 into the coop. is he moves forwardly and places one or both of his forefeet upon the pl atform 48., allowins` his weight to fall on the pl,` i, the slight pressure exerted by the animal will be suflicient to depress the platform 48, the straps 4'?, and the arm 46. thereby rotating; the shaft 44 and elevating' the arm 50, when the weight 41 will be released fromits elevated position and race down the track 82, thereby displacing the m center of gravity of the pivoted frame and cause the rear end of the beam 18 to be tilted downwardly. As the beam 18 is tilted downwardly in the same direction with the depressed platform 48, the forward end vof the beam `which is provided with a lip 2O will be raised. Links 27 will move the upper end of the rocker arm 24 rearwardly, while the lower end of the rocker arm will be moved forwardly and carry the pusher rod 22 likewise forwardly and force the door 38 off the lip 20, when it will drop by gravity, by reason ofthe added weights 21, and be guided in its downward movement .upon the wooden bumper 65, by the members 64. The members 64 maintain the door in closing1 relation with the opening 2.

that is claimed is 1. A trap comprising; an enclosure having an opening`r agravity-operated door for said opening, a pivotally mounted frame provided with a support for suspending the door in an elevated position, a plunger on the frame for driving the suspended door oli' the support `of the frame, and means for operating the plunger.

2. A trap, comprising an enclosure having an opening, a gravity operated door for said opening, a pivotally mounted-frame supporting the door in elevated position, a shaft rotatably mounted v'on the frame and pro.- vided lwith crank arms, l ported by one of the arms and adapted when depressed to move the arm and rotate the shaft, the other arm being operated by the shaft' for causing the center of gravity kof the pivoted frame to be shifted, and thereby causing the frame to tilt on its pivot, and means operated by the tilting' of the frame for positively disengaging the 4door from theframel 3. A trap, comprising an enclosure having an opening, a gravity operated door for said opening, a pivotally mounted frame supporting the door in elevated position, a ball race mounted on the frame, a Weight shiftable in the race upon opposite sides of .the pivotal point of the frame, a lshaft rrotatably mounted on' the frame and provided vvithv crank arms, a platform supported by one ofthe armsand adapted when depressed to rotate the shaft and move the other arm, said ysecond arm .adapted to maintain the Weight upon one sideof the pivotal point of the frame and When operated by the shaft toxrelease the Weight forv movement in the race whereby saidy Weight is shifted to the other side of thepivotal point of the frame vand thereby causing the frame to' tilt on its pivot',` andI means operated by the tilting of the lframe for positively disengaging the door from the frame.

A. A trap comprising an enclosure having an opening', ay gravity operated door for said opening, a pivotally mounted frame supporting the door in elevated position, a platform supportedby the frame, means operated When the platform is depressed to displace fthe center of gravity of the pivoted vframe and thereby cause the frame to tilt `on its pivot, and means operated by the tilting of the frame for positively disengaging the ydoor from the frame.

5. A trap comprising' an enclosure having an opening, a gravity operated door for said opening, a pivot-ally mounted frame supporting the door in elevated position, means responsive to pressure for tilting the frame, means for varying the responsiveness of the operating means to pressure, and means operated bythe tilting of t-he frame for positively disengaging the door fromv the frame.

6. A trap comprising an enclosure having any openinga` gravity operated door for said opening, a pivotally mounted frame supa platform supan opening, agravity operated-doorfor said p a pivotally mounted framey -sup"- opening,v porting the door in elevated position, race mounted on .theframe,v ay `weight shifta'b'le' in the race, means 'for1-maintaining the Weight .upon one side of the lpivotal -pointA Vof the frame, means responsive to pressure for releasing the Weight to changet-hef position ofthe same relative to the pivotal point of the frame to tilt said frame, means for varying-the responsiveness ofthe vdevice to pressure, and means operatedby thetilting of the frame for positively ydisengaging the door from the frame. e

' 8.- A trap comprising an enclosure having an opening, a gravity operated door forl said opening, a pivotally mounted frame sup-l porting the door in elevated positioina shaft rotatably mounted onthe frame and provided With a crank arm, a platform. supported upon said varm and adapted when depressed to rotate the shaft, a race mounted upon the frame and extending upon vopposite sides of the pivotal point of the frame, a ball shiftable in the race, a. keeper maintaining the ball in an elevated position in the race and adapted to release said ball ywhenl the platform is depressed, and means on the keeper for varying the responsiveness'of the* platform to pressure, said' ball ivhen' depressed in the lower part of the'race ladap'terflto cause the frame to tilt, an'dimeans operated by the tilting of the framefor posi tively disengaging the door from thel frame.

9. trap comprising an enclosure `having an opening, a gravity operated doo-rfor said opening, a. pivotally mounted vframe supporting the door in elevated position, means for-tilting the uframe,`and a pusher rod slidably mounted on the framey andadapted. to

be operated-by thetilting of the frame'for disengaging the door from the frame.

-l0. A trap comprising an enclosure havf ing an opening, a gravity operated door for said opening, a pivotally mounted frame for supporting the door in elevated' position, means for tilting ,the frame, a pusher rod s lidably mounted on the frame, a rocker arm connected With the pusher rod, and a link connected to the frame and' to the-rocker' arm for operating the pusher rodftofdisengage the door from the frame When said frame-is tilted. i D i f fr 11'; Ay trap comprising an enclosure -hav- Sti ing an opening, a gravity operated door for said opening, a pivotally mounted frame supporting the door in elevated position, means shiftable from opposite sides of the pivotal point of the frame for tilting the frame means for displacing said shiftable means, and means operated by the tilting of the frame for positively disengaging the door from the frame.

l2. A trap comprising an enclosure having an opening, a gravity operated door for said opening, a pivotally mounted frame for supporting the door in elevated position, a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame and provided With a crank arm, a platform responsive to pressure for operating the crank to rotate the shaft, a Weight shiftable upon opposite sides of the pivotal point of the frame, means operated lby the shaft for maintaining the last named means upon one side of the pivotal point of the frame and adapted, when operated, to permit the said means to move to the opposite side of the pivotal point to tilt the frame, and means operated by the tilting of the frame for positively disengaging the door from the frame.

13. A trap comprising an enclosure having an opening, a gravity operated door for said opening, a pivotally mounted frame supporting the door in elevated position, a ball movable in a track for tilting the frame, said ball adapted to be supported in the upper part of the track, a releasing` means for the ball, means responsive to pressure for tripping the releasing means, and means for adjusting` the releasing means to canse the same to be responsive to varying pressures.

14:. A trap comprising an enclosure having an opening, a gravity impelled closure for said opening, a pivoted beam supporting the closure in elevated position, means for tilting the beam., and a push rod operated by the tilting of the beam for forcing the closure from the supported position on the beam.

15. A trap comprising an enclosure having an opening, a gravity impelled closure for the opening, a pivoted beam supporting the closure in elevated position, means for tilting the beam, means adjustable along the beam for varying the responsiveness of the beam to tilting for counterba-lancing the varying Weights of the door closure, and a push rod operated by the tilting of the beam for forcing the door from its supported position on the beam.

16. A trap comprising an enclosure having an opening, a gravity-operated door for said opening` a pivotally mounted frame provided with a support engaging the door 'for suspending the door in elevated position, a gravity-operated means locked in an elevated position upon one side of the pivotal point of the frame and adapted to tilt the frame when released, means responsive to pressure for releasing the gravity-operated means from its locked position, said means when released being projected upon the opposite side of the pivotal point and tilting the frame, and means actuated by the tilting of the frame for driving the door 0H its support on the frame.

17. A. trap comprising an enclosure having an opening, a gravity operated door for said opening, a pivotally mounted frame supporting the door in elevated position, a gravity operated means on the beam adapted to tilt the beam, means responsive to pressure for retaining the gravity operated means upon one side of the pivotal point of the frame, said means when released permitting the gravity operated means to be projected upon the opposite side of the pivotal point and tilt the frame, and an adjustable means for causing the retaining means to be responsive to varying pressures.

18. A trap comprising a casing having an opening, a gravity impelled closure for the opening, a pivoted beam supporting the closure in elevated position, means for tilting the "beam, a push rod slidably mounted on the beam, a rocker arm pivotally connected with the push rod, and links connected With the rocker arm and with the beam for operating the push rod for forcing the door from its supported position on the beam when said beam is tilted.

19. A strip comprising a casing having an opening, a gravity impelled closure for the opening, a pivotally mounted frame supporting the closure in elevated position, a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, a track provided With a ball shiftable on said track and upon opposite sides of the pivotal point of the frame, means operated by the shaft for retaining the ball in the upper end of the track and upon one side of the pivotal point of the frame, a crank arm for rotating the shaft, and means responsive to pressure for operating the shaft. to release the retaining means to permit the ball to shift the center of gravity of the pivoted frame and thereby tilt the frame and eject the door from its supported position on the frame.

20. A trap comprising a casing having an opening, a gravity impelled closure for the opening, a pivoted frame supporting the closure in elevated position, means for tilting the frame, and means operated by the tilting of the frame for forcing the door from its supported position on the frame, and means adjustable longitudinally of the frame for counterbalancing the pivoted frame When doors ofdifferent Weights are provided.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto aiiiXed my signature.

CHARLES ROBERT STEINBERG. 

